DE4022427A1 - Conveyor for workpieces on holders - consists of separate conveyors transferred round corners by sliding edges, and side plates - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyor for processing and/or assembly machines incorporates separate conveyors (1) in the form of straight roller, belt, double-track, double-roller or band conveyors on which are workpiece-holders (5). The workpieces are guided by the vertical side-plates (3) of the separate conveyors (2) which abut at right angles at the same level. The workpiece holders (5) are linked together in a rectangular top part (7) and a flat cylindrical bottom part (6). The bottom part (6) is deflected by means of a sliding edge (12) inserted into the outer corner of the side-plates (3), so that the workpieces are transferred round corners. USE/ADVANTAGE - The workpiece holders are transferred round corners without a lifting transverse conveyor.

Description

The invention relates to a conveyor system for Processing and / or assembly systems in which Processing and / or placement machines or -Automats with each other to a processing and / or Assembly line connecting individual conveyors as rectilinear reel, belt, double track, double reel or belt conveyor designed and with workpiece carriers are equipped, which on the rollers, belts or Bands in frictional contact lying along the respective one Single conveyor movable and fixed from the side upright cheeks of the individual conveyors sliding are led, and in which the individual sponsors adjoin each other at right angles and at the same level and by means of workpiece transfer devices are connected.

Conveyors of the type mentioned are for the automation becoming more and more perfect industrial and commercial production facilities indispensable. They should be versatile work reliably and should be inexpensive.

In known conveyor systems, the corner transfer forms between two successive at right angles Individual funding agencies have a weakness, their satisfactory Design has so far not been successful.

A known transfer device is the Cross stroke conveyor. It has two short cross conveyors, their Delivery directions are perpendicular to each other. One of the cross conveyors is the acceptance conveyor, the other of the donation promoters. The  Acceptance conveyor must be in one with the feeder Individual conveyors are brought into alignment and either be able to receive incoming workpiece pallets fully utilizing the funding record or, if that's not possible, a have their own drive to the workpiece carrier fully retract.

If the workpiece carrier is completely retracted, then the feeding individual conveyor must prevent the exit another tool carrier because it is locked otherwise collisions with moving parts of the Hub cross conveyor could give.

Because the two cross conveyors with their right angles conveying directions running to one another do not occur working at the same level is a lifting movement required that the workpiece carrier from the effective range one in the effective area of the other cross conveyor brings.

This requirement forces the individual sponsors to to arrange different heights. This measure is when manufacturing, or processing or equipping obstructive; because not all machines or machines, who can do such work are with theirs Height adjustable tools. It does not happen that way rarely that machines or machines in the respective individual conveyors forward and have to be connected afterwards.

The releasing cross conveyor of the lifting cross conveyor must be driven because in its area no promotional effect of the laxative individual conveyor can be exploited.  

When the cross lift conveyor moves the workpiece carrier to the laxative individual conveyor, he must all Operations without workpiece pallet backwards perform another before he is in the position Workpiece carrier from the feeding single conveyor to assume. So come, apart from locking the single conveyor, per workpiece carrier transfer at least six to be carried out individually and in succession Operations together. Every operation requires Time that is already out of machine technology and constructive reasons can not be shortened arbitrarily. It is therefore by no means impossible that a Stroke cross conveyor a shortening the cycle time one Manufacturing plant sets limits, so that from Manufacturing process, d. H. of editing or Assembly time of machines or automats possible, shorter cycle time cannot be used. As a result, the system only works because of this not with the full, possible capacity because it is the or do not allow the cross-conveyor.

Manufacturing restrictions that the Hub cross conveyor also exist still in that the front of the cross conveyor on the incoming individual conveyor incoming workpiece carrier jammed and for entry into the cross lift conveyor must be isolated.

Each cross-conveyor is therefore a compact one Accumulation of technology with complex controls. He is therefore expensive, needs more care Maintenance and care and is still the most common Source of interference in the production process.  

Form conveyor systems of the type mentioned mostly self-contained systems. Because but only straight single conveyors and rectangular Transferring cross-conveyors as components for Are available, these are closed in a ring Systems of right-angled squares. The simplest of all Shape is squares and rectangles. Space utilization, Manufacturing variety u. a. But factors lead a lot often to conveyor systems, with meandering conveyor lines and have the image of mosaic-like structures that are composed of right-angled squares.

If you consider that a square or rectangular conveyor system already four Hub cross conveyor needed to be a Conveyor cycle for workpiece carriers closes, then evident that price, maintenance and Maintenance effort and the likelihood of a malfunction compared to a single stroke cross conveyor quadruple.

Conveyors with a mosaic structure, the accordingly z. B. eight, twelve or more sponsors have eight, twelve or several times more expensive, also have eight, twelve or have multiple maintenance and care needs finally one around the same ones mentioned Factor-controlled probability of occurrence a disturbance.

The limitations of manufacturing by the Hub cross conveyor and its disadvantages mentioned are in Basically unbearable, but in need of a better one Solutions are accepted.

The invention is based, which to avoid the disadvantages and a To create a conveyor system of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the corner transfer of the workpiece carrier without Cross stroke conveyor is carried out.

To solve this task, the initially mentioned conveyor system according to the invention, that the corner transfer between the right angles contiguous individual conveyors by means of Workpiece carriers, which are in a square, rectangular top and a flat cylindrical Lower part are divided by the flat cylindrical Lower part either with a conveying effect or mechanically by means of one inserted in the outer corner of the cheeks Sliding edge can be deflected, the square designed top without gaps at the corner handover is slidably guided between the cheeks, so that the Workpiece carrier at the corner handover Direction of funding but not their direction in space change.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention provided that the workpiece carrier from a Lower part in the form of the flat cylindrical disc and a top in the shape of a square or Rectangle exist that the circle diameter of the Disc equal to the side length of the square or the shorter side length of the rectangular one Top and equal or slightly smaller than that Inner distance of the cheeks of the individual conveyors is either the circle and the center of the square are congruent lie on top of or on top of each other or with a rectangular shape Shape of the upper part of the flat cylindrical disc  Lower part arranged below the upper part is that the projections of a narrow side and the two subsequent long sides of the Upper part tangents to the flat cylindrical disc form the lower part, and that as Transfer devices at least on the outer corner of the adjacent cheeks of two individual conveyors limited the height of the lower parts, the rectangular Corner of the lower cheek areas at an angle of 45 ° bridging sliding edges provided for the lower parts are, and that the distance between the inside corner and Sliding edge at least the circle diameter of the Lower part is the same.

In known conveyor systems, the workpiece carriers merely the function of a link between Conveyor and workpiece, they take the workpiece by means of an additional recording device, bear its weight by transferring it to the Conveyor and transmitted by frictional engagement with the Conveyor whose conveying effect on the workpiece.

The invention, however, sets the workpiece carrier as leadership and management actively cooperating with the sponsor Guiding elements and so surprisingly does Cross-conveyor is unnecessary.

Because at the corner handover with the help of a Stroke cross conveyor also the position of the workpiece carrier is changed to the conveying direction by 90 ° and this Effect must be maintained according to the invention if the Hub cross conveyor to be replaced, the Workpiece carrier from a flat cylindrical lower part and a square top, being circle  and the center of the square lie on top of or on top of each other. As a result of this division into lower and upper part ensures the lower part for the corner transition between the two individual conveyors colliding at the same level while the top for changing the direction of the Workpiece carrier ensures.

For single conveyors with their ends form the right-angled corner in the outer corner a deflecting, to everyone Single conveyors running at an angle of 45 ° corner-bridging sliding edge as deflection device built-in. The sliding edge acts as a solid body or also be designed as an insertable rail is also only as high as that Lower part. It "pushes" the workpiece carrier first by taking advantage of the funding from the incoming individual conveyor "around the corner", whereby the promotional effect of the laxative individual conveyor gradually takes effect and further transport takes over.

So that the lower part in its shape as a flat Cylindrical disk with the diameter of the cheek distance the sliding edge is unimpeded trained and arranged that your least Distance from the inside corner at least that Corresponds to the circular diameter of the lower part. If necessary. is the inside corner suitably shortened or the cheeks are at their front edges at an angle of 45 ° beveled.

For the workpiece carrier at the corner handover its direction in space does not change during that The corner is handed over, is the square top  responsible; because it is always secure against twisting between the cheeks of the incoming conveyor guided. Only when the workpiece carrier is already in the area of the continuing individual conveyor his cheeks take on the leadership role and prevent the square from Corner delivery twisted. Thus, the overcomes Workpiece carrier the corner in the form of a translational movement.

When the corner is handed over, the "outer" front overlaps the cylindrical disc, or the lower part, projecting Corner of the top over the top of the Sliding edge without lying on it. For support of the lower part can in the corner area of the outgoing Conveyor additional, non-driven rollers be arranged.

When the corner is handed over in the form of the "infiltration" the incoming individual conveyor at right angles to the Length of the continuing individual conveyor, so that results in a "T-shape". This type of corner handover is preferably advantageous for roller conveyors. At This type of corner transfer is the sliding edge dispensable; because the mechanical deflection by the The sliding edge is then supported by the continuing individual sponsor. To the Leading effect of the square top changes doing nothing.

The introduction can be advantageous with "clocked" Funding used in automated assembly will. Then there can always be a workpiece mounting workpiece inserted into the conveyor line and Z. B. to be promoted to the pick and place machine.  

According to claim 3, the upper and lower parts of the Workpiece carrier in one piece or in one piece educated.

Alternatively, claim 4 provides that top and Lower part of the workpiece carrier manufactured separately and are releasably connected to each other if necessary.

The development according to claim 5 provides that Upper part of the workpiece carrier immediately as Workpiece receiving surface is formed.

So z. B. for production series specific type of workpiece carriers or rather also Tops are provided. So far it has not been possible. Uniform workpiece carriers and separate, mounted on it Workpiece holding devices used, whereby the Workpiece carriers became heavy and expensive. In the This shape can be made from plastic done economically.

The development according to claim 6 is then advantageous if workpieces that are particularly well structured no secure support on the top would have, or if such outlines in the Manufacturing arise. Adapters that fit the workpiece add supportive and their position on the Workpiece carriers through index surveys or - Wells are secured, grant secure circulation and exact position.

With the help of training according to claim 7, it is possible a workpiece in a production line and without turning it from all six sides edit or equip.  

But it is also possible to have bulky protrusions Workpieces that are afflicted with the workpiece carrier place that the projection, the projection or the like. protrudes down through the hole in the workpiece carrier. It is then indispensable, as a single conveyor double belt or to use roller conveyors in the central area Have space for such projections or the like.

The conveyor system according to the invention performs the Handing over the corner fluently, requires neither stowage nor Separation of the workpiece carriers and power different elevations of the individual conveyors to Purpose of handing over the corner. Wasted time at the corner handover does not occur, restrictions of Conveying speeds are not required.

Thus, the complex, expensive, space-consuming, prone to failure and slow working, as a result numerous moving parts energy consuming and Hub cross conveyor subject to wear surprisingly simple and effective way become dispensable. There are numerous advantages achieved that go far beyond what is through Savings in lifting cross conveyors can be expected.

An example of this is that according to claim 8 trained conveyor system. With this configuration are two oppositely arranged close to each other individual sponsors at at least one end connected by means of a short bridge conveyor, whereby a two corner handover according to the invention takes place. Because the workpiece carrier be moved translationally, i.e. their direction in Maintaining space means the opposite direction of funding the individual conveyor simultaneously makes a 180 ° change of  Position of the workpiece in relation to the conveying direction. The original front end becomes rear end and vice versa. This could be done with cross-stroke conveyors Reverse direction only technically complex.

For special cases where bulky workpieces are open a conveyor system not provided for this in principle is to be promoted, the further training is after Claim 9 provided. With this further training it is The upper part is designed as a rectangle and has a short Rectangular side, the circular diameter of the lower part corresponds. It is arranged so that the additional part, that turns a square into a rectangle as it protrudes protrudes unilaterally over the lower part. With that there is space created for bulky workpieces.

To several successive individual conveyors to be able to go through, they must alternate one the short and one of the long sides of the rectangle have the appropriate cheek spacing, because yes Workpiece carrier translational while maintaining its directional orientation in the room takes place. It can be advantageous on the Side, where there is a large amount of individual conveyors Cheek distance the protrusion of the upper part is located a bar limited to the height of the lower part as a guide for the lower part of the To place the workpiece carrier in front of the cheek.

This further training offers particular benefits if the supernatant of the square making the square Upper part more or less frame-like is so that the area located on this area of the workpiece for processing from below over a large area is accessible.  

This particular measure in the design of the Workpiece carrier can still be varied and be combined.

Embodiments designed according to the invention Conveyors are schematic in the drawings shown. It shows:

Fig. 1 and 2 as part of an inventive conveyor system showing two perpendicularly abutting individual conveyors with Eckübergabe according to the invention, wherein Fig. 1 roller and Fig. 2 Doppelgutförderer,

Fig. 3 is another partial view of an inventive handling system with at Eckübergabe introduction,

Fig. 4 shows a workpiece carrier of the conveyor systems designed according to the invention and

Fig. 5 variants of the conveyor system designed according to the invention, in particular the 180 ° direction change and a workpiece carrier variant.

Since each conveyor system of production systems has a self-contained conveyor line, which is composed of straight individual conveyors 1 which adjoin each other at right angles, it is sufficient if only the joint is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In Fig. 1 and 2, the joint is a corner 2. Each individual conveyor 1 is designed either as a roller, belt, double belt or double roller conveyor and has upright, preferably metallic cheeks 3 .

At corner 2 , the individual conveyors 2 adjoin each other at the same height.

Workpiece carriers 5 are provided for the transport of workpieces 4 ( FIG. 4). The workpiece carriers 5 are made of plastic and are divided into a lower part 6 in the form of a flat cylindrical disk and an upper part 7 in the form of a square. Upper and lower part 7 or 6 can be separate parts which are detachably connected to one another or can be formed in one piece.

The circular diameter of the cylindrical disk and the side length of the square are the same and correspond approximately to the distance between the cheeks 3 .

The upper and lower parts 7 and 6 have congruent center points, one above the other. The result is that the square upper part 7 with four upper part corners 8 projects beyond the cylindrical lower part 6 . When conveying the upper and lower part 7 , 6 are slidably guided between the cheeks 3 .

In the Eckübergabe of FIG. 1 and 2, the walls 3 form an outer corner and an inner corner 10 of 9. If the cheeks 3 on the inner corner 10 are short or beveled, the upper parts 7 can pass the corner 2 without the workpiece carrier 5 changing its orientation in space. - See marking in Fig. 1.

A 9 inwardly in the outer corner between the walls 3 is used, each directed at an angle of 45 ° to the cheeks 3 sliding edge 12 for a smooth transition of the conveyor effect and the required bypass effect. It can be designed as a solid insert or as a bar and is no higher than the lower part 6 , so that the upper corners 8 slide over its upper edge when the corner is handed over.

The smallest distance between the sliding edge 12 and the inner corner 10 is at least as large as the circular diameter of the lower part 6 .

Using the conveying effect, the sliding edge 12 causes a mechanical deflection of the workpiece carrier 5 around the corner 2 , which is carried out by the upper part 7 while maintaining the position in space.

Fig. 3 shows an example of introduction. Because the individual conveyors 1 collide in a T-shape, there is only one inner corner 10 . As a result, the sliding edge 12 can be dispensed with, since its mechanical deflecting effect produces the conveying effect of the receiving individual conveyor 1 .

Index surveys 13 and / or depressions 14 can be provided on the upper side of the upper parts 7 for the position-defined reception of workpiece-specific adapters. The workpiece carriers can also have machining and / or assembly holes 15 from top to bottom.

FIG. 5 shows a conveyor line formed by individual conveyors 1, wherein the two individual conveyors close to each other in parallel and are arranged with oppositely directed conveying direction. Their ends are connected by means of a short bridge conveyor 16 each. The bridge conveyor 16 is actually only a very short individual conveyor.

The corner transfer takes place as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The workpiece carrier 5 maintains its position in space and the deflection brings about sliding edges 12 which are inserted into the outer corners 9 . It is achieved that the workpiece carrier 5 reverses the conveying direction of 180 °.

As an example, workpiece carriers 5 with a rectangular upper part 7 are shown. The rectangles are dimensioned and arranged so that there is a one-sided projection 17 over the lower part 6 . A protrusion 17 can be advantageous for many manufacturing purposes.

Corresponding to the rectangular shape of the upper part 7 , the bridge conveyors 16 have a greater width so that the rectangle fits transversely. In the case of longer individual conveyors 1 , the cheeks 3 would then have a distance corresponding to the long rectangular side.

In FIG. 5, the inner cheek is omitted for the sake of brevity, the bridge conveyor 16 and the point where the supernatant 17 facing outwardly, a strip 18 possibly formed integrally with the sliding edges 12 are provided between the slide edges 12, whose height also as the sliding edges 12 corresponds at most to the height of the lower part 6 , so that the projection 17 can slide over it.

When the supernatant 17 facing upwards - in FIG. 5 above - it is sufficient if the workpiece carrier 5 is guided exclusively on the outer cheek 3 of the bridge conveyor 16.

All in the claims, the description and / or the Individual and illustrated drawings Combination features are essential to the invention viewed.

The scope of the invention not only extends on the characteristics of each claim, but also on their combination.

The invention is not illustrated on and described embodiment limited. Much more this is only an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept.

Claims (12)

1. Conveyor system for processing and / or assembly systems, in the processing and / or placement machines or automatic machines, individual conveyors connecting one another to form a processing and / or assembly line, designed as straight-line roller, belt, double-track, double-roller or belt conveyors and with Workpiece carriers are fitted, which can be moved on the rollers, belts or belts in frictional contact along the respective individual conveyor and are slidably guided by fixed laterally upright cheeks of the individual conveyor, and in which the individual conveyors adjoin each other at right angles and at the same level and are connected by means of workpiece transfer devices , characterized in that the corner transfer between the right-angled individual conveyors takes place by means of workpiece carriers ( 5 ) which are divided into a square, rectangular upper part ( 7 ) and a flat cylindrical lower part ( 6 ) by the fla The cylindrical lower part ( 6 ) can be deflected either by conveying action or mechanically by means of a sliding edge ( 12 ) inserted into the outer corner of the cheeks, the square upper part being slidably guided between the cheeks ( 3 ) at the corner transfer, so that the workpiece carriers ( 5 ) when the corner is handed over, the direction of conveyance does not change its direction in space. 2. Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in
that the workpiece carriers ( 5 ) consist of a lower part ( 6 ) in the form of the flat cylindrical disk and an upper part ( 7 ) in the form of a square,
that the circular diameter of the disc is equal to the side length of the square upper part ( 7 ) and is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner spacing of the cheeks ( 3 ) of the individual conveyors ( 1 ), the center of the circle and square lying congruently on top of or on top of one another, at least as transfer devices on the outer corner ( 9 ) of the abutting cheeks ( 3 ) of two individual conveyors ( 1 ) limited to the height of the lower parts ( 6 ), the right-angled corner of the lower cheek areas at an angle of 45 ° bridging sliding edges ( 12 ) are provided for the lower parts ( 6 ) are,
and that the distance between the inner corner ( 10 ) and the sliding edge ( 12 ) is at least equal to the circular diameter of the lower part ( 6 ). 3. Conveyor system according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the lower part ( 6 ) and upper part ( 7 ) of the workpiece carrier ( 5 ) are integrally formed. 4. Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part ( 6 ) and upper part ( 7 ) are manufactured separately and, if necessary, are releasably connected to one another. 5. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper part ( 7 ) is formed on its upper side as a position-defining workpiece receiving surface. 6. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on the top of the upper parts ( 7 ) index surveys ( 13 ) and / or recesses ( 14 ) are provided for the position-defining reception of workpiece-specific adapters. 7. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the workpiece carriers ( 5 ) have continuous machining and / or assembly holes ( 15 ) from top to bottom. 8. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in
that two individual conveyors ( 1 ), which are arranged parallel to one another and at a small mutual distance, are connected at least at one end by means of a short bridge conveyor ( 16 ) after a hairpin conveyor section,
that both ends of the bridge conveyor ( 16 ) are equipped with sliding edges ( 12 ) on the outer corners ( 9 ) thereof,
and that the position of a workpiece in relation to the conveying direction can be changed by 180 ° by means of this arrangement. 9. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in
that the upper part ( 7 ) of the workpiece carrier ( 5 ) is designed as a rectangle, the short side of which is equal to the circular diameter of the flat cylindrical disk of the lower part ( 6 ),
that the distance between the cheeks ( 3 ) of the successive individual conveyors ( 1 ) is alternately the short and the long rectangular side,
and that, at least in the case of short individual conveyors ( 1 ) with a cheek distance which corresponds to the long rectangular side of the upper part ( 7 ) of the workpiece carrier ( 5 ), a bar ( 18 ) limited to the height of the lower part ( 6 ) as a guide edge for the lower part ( 6 ) is used and the one-sided projection ( 17 ) of the upper part ( 7 ) extends over the bar ( 18 ) to the cheek ( 3 ). 10. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the workpiece carriers ( 5 ) are made of plastic. 11. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the workpiece carriers ( 5 ) consist of metal. 12. Conveyor system according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the workpiece carriers ( 5 ) consist of wood.